Jackson has played for five teams in his seven-year Arena Football League career, most recently the Tampa Bay Storm in 2017. The Jacksonville native was named Second Team All-Arena playing for his hometown Sharks in 2016. Jackson has tallied 21 sacks in his career and at least three in three of the last four seasons.

Lawrence has played six seasons in the AFL and his last three with the Philadelphia Soul. In 2017, the Morgan State alumnus was named First Team All-Arena after recording a career-high 6.5 sacks. Lawrence has amassed 68 solo tackles, four forced fumbles and one interception in his career.

Taylor started six games for the Brigade last season. The former Michigan Wolverine has registered 58 solo tackles, 23 sacks, 15 forced fumbles and two interceptions in his seven-year AFL career.

“During the offseason, a major priority for us was to improve our defense,” Brigade Head Coach Omarr Smith said. “These signings represent a major step toward getting that done. The ability to make opposing quarterbacks uncomfortable while maintaining tight coverage down the field is imperative for our defense to be successful. I am confident these guys will do that.”

Nixon started at fullback for the Brigade in all 14 games last season, registering 164 all-purpose yards and 10 total touchdowns. Nixon scored a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns in 2016 with the LA Kiss.

Sims appeared in nine games last season, all with the Cleveland Gladiators, leading the AFL with 119.0 receiving yards per game and ranking second with 2.7 touchdowns per game. In just three seasons, Sims has totaled 174 receptions, 2,193 receiving yards and 53 touchdowns.

Below is a full breakdown of players added to the Brigade training camp roster this week:

NAME

POS.

COLLEGE

AFL EXP.

Daniel Adams

WR

Maryland

R

Qumain Black

DB

East Central Oklahoma

2

Shane Boyd

QB

Kentucky

8

Lamark Brown

WR

Minnesota State

3

Cory Butler-Byrd

WR

Utah

R

Ruben Carter

OL

Toledo

R

Rodney Fritz

DL

Tennessee State

3

Virgil Gray

DB

Rhode Island

6

Miles Grooms

DL

Hampton

R

Randy Hippeard

QB

Virginia Wise

5

Kendrick Ings

WR

N/A

3

Dexter Jackson

LB

Bethune-Cookman

7

Justin Lawrence

DL

Morgan State

6

Mark Lewis

K

Florida International

13

Monte Lewis

DL

Jacksonville State

2

Jordan McCray

OL

Central Florida

2

Andre Monroe

DL

Maryland

R

Kendall Montgomery

DL

Bowling Green State

1

Rory Nixon

FB

St. Augustine

4

Fred Obi

DB

San Diego

3

Joe Powell

DB

Globe Tech

1

Dominique Reed

WR

Arkansas

R

Kyron Samuels

OL

Jacksonville State

R

Quentin Sims

WR

Tennessee Martin

3

Terrance Taylor

DL

Michigan

7

Milton Williams

WR

Delaware State

1

Rykeem Yates

DL

Nevada

R

Zach Voytech

OL

New Haven

R

The 2018 Brigade regular season, presented by MedStar Health, kicks off in Baltimore, Md., on Fri., April 13, when the Brigade host the Washington Valor at 7 p.m. at Royal Farms Arena. Following their season opener, the Brigade travel to Philadelphia on Sat., April 21 for a Week 2 matchup with the defending-champion Soul, a rematch of last season’s semifinal matchup.